Variety of apple tree named Jonagored Supra

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive variety of apple Malus domestica, tree named Jonagored Supra, a sport mutation of the apple variety Jonagored, uniquely characterized from its parent variety by the rounder form of its fruit; its slightly softer red-colored, approximately 90% solid blush having scarcely visible, very fine red stripes in it and approximately 10% of its surface is striped; by the earlier ripening and picking dates of its fruit; by the tree&#39;s distinctly weaker growth habit, the very dark brown to greyed-purple color of its wood; more pubescence and a lower amont of lenticels; and by the irregular margin of its leaves which is generally serrate but some are also biserrate and serrate-biserrate. Extended observation has further indicated that the Jonagored Supra is virus free, and is an improvement on the Jonagored variety with respect to its growth habit, color and productivity.

This application claims the benefit of the right of priority accordedunder the International Convention for the Protection of New Varietiesof Plants (UPOV Convention) of European Union Community Plant VarietyRights Application NR 0200/96 filed 25 Jan. 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree namedJonagored Supra.

The new apple variety was discovered in a cultivated Jonagored appleorchard located at Halen, Belgium as a sport mutation of the Jonagoredapple tree, U.S. Pat. Plant No. 5,937. It was noted that one tree in theorchard was unique and different in appearance from the entire block ofJonagored trees. This whole tree mutation was propagated by means of aprobably spontaneous mutated eye that was taken as budwood. Its fruitcoloring started with a green-orange-red color about 10th August, whilethe coloring of the cultivated fruit of Jonagored started later with astriped-brown-red color.

Observation of the mutated tree over a period of five weeks indicatedthat the condition of the fruit remained stable although its colorgradually became dark-red with scarcely visible very fine red stripes init. In comparision with the parent variety, the Jonagored Supra isalready, picking-ripe and completely red, eight days before the fruit ofthe parent variety. Cuttings were made from the sport mutation and thenew variety was reproduced by grafting. Extending observation in Halen,Belgium has shown that the unique and distinguishing characteristics ofthe mutated tree and its fruit have remained consistent through itsthird generation descendants. Both the descendants and the originalmutated tree continue to share the very same characteristics and fruitcolor described. Extended observation has also indicated that theJonagored Supra is virus free and it is an improvement of the Jonagoredvariety with respect to its growth habit, color and productivity.

Various differences between the parent Jonagored apple variety and thenew Jonagored Supra apple variety are itemized in the followingcomparison table. With respect to the following dates of the Jonagoredparent variety, the United States Plant Patent and the table ofcharacteristics from the testing station in Brogdale, England was used.

                  TABLE A                                                         ______________________________________                                        JONAGORED          JONAGORED SUPRA                                            ______________________________________                                        Tree:                                                                         stronger growth    weaker growth although                                                        it is virus free                                                              although the Jonagored                                                        is very productive,                                                           this variety is even                                                          more productive                                            Wood:                                                                         more and bigger    less lenticels;                                            lenticels          generally round points                                                        more pubescence                                                               darker brown/purple                                                           color                                                      Leaves: margin:                                                               serrate            generally serrate (82%)                                                       biserrate (9%)                                                                serrate-biserrate (9%)                                     Petiole + veins:                                                              purple-red colored green and light purple-                                                       red colored against the                                                       stem                                                                          petioles are longer                                        Dormant fruit bud:                                                            conical            conical-ovoid:                                             Fruit:                                                                        form:round conical form:round                                                 crowning at distal crowning at distal end:                                    end:present        weak                                                       color: 50% blush   color: 90% blush                                           50% stripes        10% stripes                                                more hard red/     slightly softer red/red                                    red coloring       coloring                                                   +75% color         90% to 95% color                                           intention          intention                                                                     coloring and ripening is                                                      8 days earlier than                                                           Jonagored                                                  Fruit in cross-section:                                                       cells are open     cells are more open                                        ______________________________________                                    

THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate my new Jonagored Supra apple treeand the characteristics of its fruit taken at the time of fruit ripeningfor keeping.

FIG. 1 illustrates the shape of the apple from every side.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating longitudinal and transverse sections takenthrough the fruit of the Jonagored Supra variety.

FIG. 3 is a view of the leaves and branches of the new apple tree, alongwith the seeds of its fruit.

FIG. 4 illustrates the over all appearance and growth habit of theJonagored Supra apple tree.

FIG. 5 is a closer view of a portion of the Jonagored Supra apple treeshown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new apple tree varietyJonagored Supra as grown and observed at Halen, Belgium. Colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart of London inassociation with the Flower Council of Leiden --- Holland (1986) exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: A sport mutation of the apple tree variety Jonagored.

Propagation: Asexually by budding and grafting.

The Tree

Form: Medium size.

Habit of growth: Generally rapid, very productive, regular bearer.

Vigor (based on height and spread): Weak-medium.

Trunk: Medium stocky, smooth, medium strong.

Branches: Drooping.

Density of head: Medium.

Predominance of bearing: On spurs (also tips).

Dormant one-year old shoot (on October 14th):

Thickness.--Medium.

Pubescence.--Moderate; round about the shoot.

Internode.--From 0.04 to 4.08 cm (average of 2.31 cm).

Number of lenticels.--Few through present.

Size of lenticels.--Small; maximum 1.5 mm long; generally round points.

Wood bud.--Pubescence (on upper half of shoot): Moderate.

Form.--Relatively straight.

Color of the wood.--Upper side: with pubescence dark-brown, darker thangreyed group 201A; without pubescence between brown group 200A andgreyed-purple group 187A; underside: with pubescence greyed-green group197A; without pubescence a bit darker than yellow-green group 152A (morebrownish).

Dormant fruit buds (on October 14th):

Shape.--Conical-ovoid.

Apex.--Moderately pointed.

Pubescence.--Moderate.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--From 4.61 to 7.54 mm.

Width.--4.21 mm.

Leaves (on October 14th):

General pose.--Outwards.

L/B ratio.--Medium.

Margin.--Generally serrate (82%), biserrate (9%), serrate-biserrate(9%).

Size.--Oval. Length: from 7.07 to 13.07 cm (average of 9.94 cm). Width:from 4.30 to 7.69 cm (average of 6.34 cm).

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Obtuse.

Color.--Yellow-green group. Upper side: 147A. Under side: 148B.

Leave blade.--With a very strong glossiness of upper side and a mediumpubescence on underside.

Petiole.--Length: medium; from 2.10 to 3.19 cm (average of 2.52 cm).Width measured in the middle: from 0.10 to 0.27 cm (average of 0.207cm).

Stipules.--L/B ratio: much longer than broad; average length of 1.10 cm;average width of 0.19 cm.

Flowers:

Time of beginning of flowering.--Medium.

Time of full flower.--Medium-late.

Shape.--Moderately cupped.

Size (diameter flower with petals pressed into horizontalpositions).--Medium.

Petals.--L/B ratio: longer than broad. Relation of margins: free.

Sepal.--Color: green with brown-red tips.

Styles.--Length in relation to stamens: equal. Point of fusion: awayfrom base.

The Fruit

Dates of first and last pickings: Approximately 10 September and 8October, respectively; depending upon the year.

Time of fruit ripening for picking: Medium-late.

Time of fruit ripening for eating: Medium-late.

Size: Medium to large fruit.

General Shape: Round. Vertical diameter of approximately 6.72 cm.Horizontal diameter of approximately 7.90 cm.

Symmetry: Asymmetric.

Ribbing: present.

Prominence of ribbing.--Not prominent.

Crowning at distal end: Present.

Degree.--Weak.

Aperture of eye: Half open.

Size of eye.--Large.

Sepals (visual):

Length.--Long.

Pose.--Erect convergent.

Basis: free.

Depth of eye basin: Deep 1.07 cm.

Width of eye basin.--Broad 3.02 cm.

Ribbing of basin.--Present

Degree of ribbing: Medium.

Stalk:

Color.--Brown/Red.

Protrusion.--Much beyond cavity.

Thickness.--Slender-medium, 2.4 mm.

Length.--Long, 3.44 cm.

Cavity depth of stalk: Medium, 1.27 cm.

Width of stalk cavity.--Medium 3.00 cm.

Skin:

Surface texture.--Bumpy.

Bloom of skin.--Absent.

Greasiness of skin: Absent.

Cracking tendency of skin.--Absent.

Thickness of skin: Medium.

Shininess.--Shiny.

Ground color of skin: Green yellow.

Over color of skin: Purple, greyed-purple group 185A/185B changing to187B when eating ripe.

Amount of over color: Practically overall present.

Form.--90% solid blush with scarcely visible very fine red stripes init; 10% striped.

Russet: Present.

Amount of russet.--Weak.

Position of russet.--Around stalk cavity.

Color of russet.--Buff.

Lenticels.--Size: medium.

Number.--Medium.

Flesh:

Browning of the flesh (one hour after being cut, with stainless steelknife).--Medium.

Firmness: Firm.

Measurement with penetrometer.--8.

Color.--Cream.

Texture.--Fine to medium.

Juiciness.--Very juicy; 70 to 75% juice.

Acidity.--Medium.

Sweetness.--Medium.

Seeds:

Length.--0.81 cm.

Breadth.--0.31 cm.

Form.--Acuminate.

Color.--Brown; brown group 200C.

Fruit in cross-section:

Cavity beneath eye.--V-shaped.

Position of stamens.--Basal.

Shape of core.--Symmetric.

Distinctness of core-line (median through locules).--Medium.

Aperture of cells.--Open, medium.

Other Characteristics

Use: Particularly well-suited as a dessert fruit; juices and usable forculinary purposes as well.

Keeping quality:

Ntural conditions.--Very good.

Refrigerated conditions.--Keeps very well; depending on the ripeness ofthe fruit, it can be stored over 12 months.

Resistance to insects and diseases: No unusual susceptibility orresistance noted.

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of apple tree named JonagoredSupra as described and illustrated, and which is particularlycharacterized over its parent variety by its rounder form of fruit; itsslightly softer red-colored, approximately 90% solid blush havingscarcely visible, very fine red stripes in it and approximately 10% ofits surface is striped; by the earlier picking and ripening dates of itsfruit; by the tree's distinctly weaker growth habit; the very dark brownto greyed-purple color of its wood; more pubescence and a lower amountof lenticels; and by the irregular margin of its leaves which isgenerally serrate